If you have a free minute, do tell us what fragrance you picked for today.
I'm wearing Aftelier Bergamoss.
Reminder: tomorrow we're doing Fools Rush In...wear a perfume you bought within 5 minutes of smelling it. Bonus points if you ended up loving it! If you've never done anything so foolish, then wear the fragrance you bought the soonest after trying it.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2015, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: the antique French compact shown above is $410 with solid perfume of your choice, at Aftelier: "Brass and enamel French nineteenth century bronze compact with beautiful hand-done portrait of a Renaisance-style woman: Her hat festooned with a large feather, her dress with a starched collar and large formal sleeve. Lovingly rendered, she is one of a kind! The back and sides feature an overall textured striped design which feels substantial and good in the hand. Original mercury glass beveled magnifying mirror with charming defects due to age and a rope detail surrounding it."
At the moment I’m wearing Eternity Now, from a magazine test strip. It’s (surprise!) a fruity floral, but it’s not terrible. It sort of reminds me of PdN Fig Tea, so maybe there’s a osmanthus or peach note in there. It’s better than the original for sure.
Love the Fig Tea, have not yet smelled the CK — glad it’s not awful.
I am not the only NSTer who has thought this, but every time I see “Eternity Now,” “Serenity Now!!!” (Seinfeld reference) comes to mind. Ha!
Yup!! Might need to buy it just for the giggle. : D
Bergamoss sounds so lovely but I just can’t see myself buying a solid perfume. Maybe I’m just being a curmudgeon.
I’m wearing a teensy dab of vintage l’Heure Bleue parfum that I found at an antique store. There wasn’t much in the bottle and what is there is quite brown so I’m being sparing with it. It smells gorgeous even if it does strain my skin!
Has anyone here ever tried thinking out vintage perfume slightly with alcohol? I feel like a drop or two of our alcohol would give me a few more wearings.
I prefer liquids too, usually.
Is Bergamoss lovely enough to overcome your preference?
I didn’t even think about it since I can’t afford it anyway!
I’ve tried a variation on that: adding alcohol to a perfume that has become so concentrated by evaporation (and other changes I’m sure) that it’s just a solid crust in the bottom corners of the bottle. I think my bottle was even emptier than yours.
I was happy with the results. I didn’t get complete dissolution, but I did get something I could put on my skin, and I liked what I smelled. Now, whether it was healthy to put that on my skin, I don’t know.
If you want to do it and you still have liquid left, you could just mix a drop of it, experimentally, and see how you like the results. It might also make a difference to let the mixture sit a while before wearing it.
Do you know what kind of alcohol you’d want to use?
I was thinking Everclear as Kindcrow suggested. The parfum only needs a little thinning.
Sounds good. I’d love to hear how it goes!
People recommend using the highest proof vodka that you can find. If Everclear is available where you live, then that will probably be the highest proof available.
Perfumer’s alcohol would be ideal, but getting it shipped to you could very difficult, and if you can get it shipped to you, you, might have to buy way more than you need.
Lucky (or unlucky) enough to live where Everclear is legal. Thanks for the suggestion.
I’ve been really wanting to try Bergamoss; it sounds wonderful.
Wearing Musc Nomade again but I can’t really smell it today. I saw part-time musk anosmia come up multiple times in reviews, but it’s certainly a weird experience when I swear I could smell it the other day.
I find sometimes weather (esp. humidity) makes a difference
I want to understand how this works! Does anyone know?
The common explanation is that musk molecules, because they are larger, are harder to smell. There is also a genetic component, and some evidence that large musk molecules can interact with olfactory receptors in such a way that they “block” other odors — hence there are some perfumes that some consumers can barely smell at all. (I can hardly smell Narciso Rodriguez for Her) If everyone else describes a perfume as strong, and you find it incredibly weak, that’s a possible explanation (my experience w/ Bvlgari Jasmin Noir).
Thank you, Robin! I mean also to ask, how do the environmental conditions affect this process?
Leathermountain, I am guessing that humidity slows the rate at which scent molecules travel through the air because they attach to the H2O molecules making them heavier? Which would probably significantly effect larger scent molecules.
Interesting!
I also get a wavy or coming and going effect when I have musk blocking issues.
I picked Frederic Fekkai’s Sensuelle today, one of the nicest and almost photorealistic Neroli/Orangeblossom IMO, and after I love les Carottes yesterday my nose was primed to smell the carrotseeds in the base. Discontinued, but still available in the Netherlands.
Sounds lovely!
I love that idea of nose priming.
I love that one. Am I crazy or did you hear about it from me?
Yes, you inspired this lemming! Have not regretted a second, it is gorgeous. Today considered a back up bottle, it is such a perfect OB. Thank you again for posting about it (it was on BdJ).
I’m so glad!
I’m love Bergamot! And that compact is gorgeous! However, my pocketbook does not compute. I just saw an ad for TF Begamot and will have to see if that’s reviewed anywhere. I don’t remember seeing it mentioned anywhere…
SOTD is Bvlgari Black. Always perfect!
It is cheaper in a “regular” compact, but it’s still not cheap.
Now comparing Timbuktu and Ubar. My sniffer is still recovering from the stupid summer cold I had, so I can’t really pick out many details – right now Timbuktu seems lightly metholated over a smoky amber base, while Ubar is sweeter and more floral – I got some jasmine for a moment, but now it is a more general floral scent which oddly enough is reminding me of the Magie Noire I had in the late 70’s. Lots of ylang, maybe? Anyway, both pleasant enough but i am not swooning over either one of them…a great relief to my pocket book!
Glad you’re recovering, meredifay, but sorry it’s taking a while. Your side-by-side method is quite fascinating.
If a note is not quite jasmine and reminds you of Magie Noire, I wonder if it would be considered narcissus?
I happen to love love ubar
From the notes, I expected to like it more than I do today. I think my perception and response will be different once I have totally beaten off this stupid summer cold. I think I like many things you like.
Re: 1:1 comparison method..I started doing this because my sniffer is so variable….
I get a similar classic green part in the drydown of Magie Noire and Amouage Beloved…. I wonder if it’s some sort of base component that would be in a classic chypre style? I checked the notes and the only ones that (according to Fragrantica) are the same are ylang ylang and cedar. Hmmm.. I’d swear there was oakmoss or galbanum in Beloved, but it appears not. I don’t remember Ubar well enough, but it was definitely big! There is also Ylang ylang in Ubar….
Scentless
These past few weeks have been brutal. I’m trying to keep a level head over it all, but geez… some days really know how to kick me when I’m down.
Aside from moving into our new office, which already has a leak despite the “brand new roof” put on it *head*desk*, I’ve been dealing with a bad knee. Since I’m the GM I’ve had to take care of a lot of logistical stuff with the move so I couldn’t afford to just say I’d WFH. Instead, I was running all over the place and yesterday left work early due to stabbing pains in my knee. I’m taking a half day and have a doc appt later this afternoon. I’m pretty sure it’s just that I’ve messed up my IT band from overexertion, but that in itself is annoying.
I was halfway to work when I gasped and realized I hadn’t put on any perfume. I don’t keep any with me in my desk. I was so out of it this morning I barely remembered to bring everything I needed for the office. It’s a good thing my head is attached to my body or I’d have forgotten that too.
Anyway, I’ll throw on some perfume after the doc appt this afternoon and relax at home.
Tomorrow I’ll be in the car all day since the fiance and I are driving to Boston for a wedding. Doubt I’ll go with the theme. I’ll need something he can tolerate but will be soothing for me.
Hope everyone has a good day/weekend.
Hope the knee improves quickly, and that you’re able to wear flats or sandals to the wedding!
Sorry to hear about your knee. I hope it’s nothing serious and improves quickly. Have a nice time in Boston!
Hope your weekend is better than your week!
Many times I’ve left the house in a huge hurry, forgetting perfume. I was really annoyed with myself the last time. So when I got home, I grabbed two of my fav samples and stuck them in my mini cosmetic pouch that stays in my purse. I also keep a few in my tote bag too. Now all my bases are covered!
Knee sympathies, I am similarly afflicted. Knees and backs were poorly designed, IMO. ahem.
Yesterday was so crazed for me that I forgot to put on earrings before leaving the house… necklace, rings, watch, bracelet, check; earrings, nope. I feel more naked without earrings than without perfume!
Hope your weekend is much more fun and relaxing.
I hope you feel better soon- I have bad knees too – it’s a challenge for sure. Be careful in those heels!
I hope your knee feels a bit better. Hopefully the wedding will be a happy distraction. Wear comfy shoes if you can. Don’t go making things worse for the sake of fashion.
There’s a lot to be said for dancing in your bare feet
Pack some ice packs for the car ride!
Showered with Jil Sander Sun body products I bought super cheap to see if I liked it enough to blind- buy the perfume cheaply. Glad I didnt. It isnt horrible at all, but my scent association to it is c1980’s scented toilet paper/public restroom air freshener :-/
SOTD Kenzo Amour. Old fried sadly neglected because: Perfume Addiction.
I’m beginning to wear Amour too. It’s still very cold, but some precocious snowdrops and daffies in the park are telling me that spring is nearby, so a dragon’s thoughts are lightly turning to thoughts of new loves.
I’m sampling Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleur again today, and still loving it madly. It’s amazing how iris and leather can meld together in so many different ways – this is nothing like Chanel 19 (which I lurve), but still wonderful in its own way. Actually, the leather in CPF reminds me of BV Eau Legere a bit.
Geek alert. Pretty truths (half-truths?) ahead…. A gentleman who used to work at Osswald NY Perfumery told me that one of the ways to make a leather note is violets + tar. I didn’t believe him, but he demonstrated it for me by comparing perfumes. It was amazing! And it made me think differently about floral leather scents, especially the ones with violet or iris notes, which have some important aromachemicals in common.
Leathermountain, I am always fascinated and frequently delighted with the scientific/chemistry-based information you provide us – so let me just say thank you for the geekitude.
Violet+birch tar =Jolie Madame!
YESSS.
Now I might need to go through my leather scents to see if I can splice any of them as tar and violet instead of leather!
Wonder if one would then say the violet has a leather facet or the leather has a violet facet? *scratches head*
Great question! Maybe depends on the composition? I wonder what the Jolie Madame folk would say….
I’m wearing L’Impacte de Pour un homme, which is lovely and soothing.
I am in Shalimar ode a la vanille flanker-
It is a Fools Rush in bottle for me- and it’s my second time wearing it this week and I realize now why I bought it after a New York minute ????
My big sample order of Ouds has arrived and I’m kicking things off today by wearing Tom Ford Oud Fleur. Out of my price range, so I won’t get too attached. To me, it smells like a competent rose oud. If money were no object and I wanted to smell great but didn’t want to think too hard about perfume I’d probably buy most of the TF fragrances, haha.
Question: how does one get the custom picture with one’s comments? I think it’s time for me to have a face!
Click on the ‘read more about commenting’ link, and then the gravatar link.
Thanks, perthgirl! Hope it works.
And hello lovely Pamela! Great pic!
On a warm sunny day I’m in 4711 Acqua Colonia Mandarine & Cardamom, exactly what it says on the bottle, bright and cheery but of course no lasting power whatever, it’s gone in an hour. Which means I get to slap more on and get that explosive bright mandarin all over again.
Mandarine & Cardamom is my second favorite of the Acqua Colonias that I have, right after, but edging up on fast, Rhubarb & Clary Sage. I know that people love Orange Sanguine, but to my mind, Mandarine & Cardamom and Blood Orange & Basil from the 4711 line are just as good, much cheaper, and last just as long.
You smell great!
Oh, I never got to try Rhubarb & Clary Sage — it sounds terrific! What a shame this line is so rarely seen in North America, because it’s really good. I got a set of five minis in Germany this spring: I think Melissa & Verbena is my favourite (apparently being discontinued, replaced by the new Lime & Nutmeg), but Mandarine & Cardamom is definitely second on my list, too.
Thank you for this, PriscillaE. I’ve been a disappointed with Atelier Colognes, partly the result of high expectations and really wanting some great, easy citrus. Yes it ought to be reasonably priced I love the original 4711 and now will keep an eye out for chances to try that blood orange and basil one. Sounds wonderful!
I just dump eos into 4711 – basil, orange, peppermint, neroli, cardamom, lemongrass – what have you.
I’m wearing Tommi Sooni Tarantella, very vintage-y.
I have a few options for tomorrow because I used to be quite impatient with my purchases.
Think I read somewhere that the brand disappeared…on Twisted Lily, they’re all listed as out of stock. There were a couple I wanted to try.
Oh that’s too bad. I only have samples, but they are nice.
(Tarantella is full of galbanum!)
My SOTD is Le Labo Ylang 49. A little goes a long way with this one. So very lovely, but I am careful not to oversray.
I have about 3ml sample of that and it will probably last my entire life. I love it in small doses or mixed in oil or cream. You smell delightful!
SOTD is Le Galion Snob (new version). I layered this over dry down of the very smokey woodsy Aesthete yesterday and it was a very good combo.
I meant to comment that the Aesthete sounded lovely yesterday. Also, love it as a name for perfume!
Yes lovely name! Missed that yesterday
????
I should test this – I have a vintage sample of Snob and I think it is very beautiful! What a funny name though, right?
Yes!!! We also got “Whip” which I want to combine with Snob just for the names!!
SOTD is Le Couvent Eau des Missions with added dabs of sandalwood EO=my version of AG Vanille Exquise. Off to LA tomorrow to visit my mother whose health is declining as of late. So mostly I will be with family but I am conveniently staying with a friend who lives 4 blocks from Scent Bar. Will try to fit in a little pleasure sniffing as well.
That scent combo sounds great! Happy sniffing and so sorry to hear about your mom. I’m sure your visit will perk her up like nothing else could
Thanks Deva
Sampling Atelier’s Pomelo Paradis today. OMG! Love, love, love this!
I guess this solidifies the fact that I truly love citrusy, fruity fragrances. I don’t know which one I like best; Orange Sanguine or Pomelo Paradis. So, if I were able to purchase this today to fit with tomorrows theme, I would. I have passed my limit for this YEAR in buying any more FB. But I am truly considering purchasing this as soon as I can. My only issue with this fragrance and pretty much all of Atelier’s fragrances is that my skin soaks them up so quickly. They truly don’t last at all on me. I reapply several times a day.
Not to enable, but Pomelo Paradis and Orange Sanguine both exist in travel spray form. I know they sell them at Sephora, at least (maybe elsewhere, as well). I don’t know about you, but I don’t count travel sprays as FBs…
You are absolutely right! Thanks for the info!
My turn to have flu today – well this week – and I can smell very little. Decided to experiment yesterday and sprayed myself with Dirty body spray, thinking that all the herbs, mint and lavender could only help. Wrong call: immediate burning in my sinuses; I had to wash it off and change clothes. Not spraying anything today – but I do have a little of the much more mellow Dirty solid on my hands and that is quite pleasant.
Get well soon.
Wow, lots of folks aren’t feeling well on here. I hope you are feeling better soon.
I’ve burned my sinuses too when I was sick. It’s not a fun experience. Hopefully you’ll be safe to spritz something very shortly.
Thanks both of you! I am definitely on the mend
Somehow I caught a cold and today I have a drippy nose and I’m sneezing a lot. I can’t remember the last time I had one. I can still smell, so I’m wearing Infusion d’Iris Absolue today. I have many choices for tomorrow; I used to blind-buy a lot.
Another one with the sniffles! I hope you feel better soon.
Wow! This was a harsh summer for bugs. Hope it passes soon.
I did find my wallet/wristlet yesterday. I think that when I checked out of the store, it slipped off my arm. But today I am wearing Theorema and loving every minute of it.
Congrats, both on finding your wallet and on your lovely perfume today!
Yay!
I’m in…wait for it…Orange Sanguine AGAIN today. I’ll be layering with Eau d’Orange Verte shortly. I like the combo on a warm day. The good news is that I’ve only got about 2 more wears of each left, so I’ll have to branch out into something else soon.
Wearing 1000 by Jean Patou, from a tiny tester. It goes all sparkly and rich, very pretty, powdery- but faded quickly. I just refreshed with a couple of tiny spritzes to carry me through the rest of the morning.
Ahh, old school flashback for me. I heart 1000!
I am really starting to like a lot! I just had to be gusty and spray on proper spritzes. It smell really lovely- super glam. It’s not too hot now, and I am dressed in a silk top and linen suit pants, so I feel really glamorous.
And you look and smell the way you feel! Yay for elegance and glamour.
Good morning to all of NST. My Friday as begun, albeit barely, so I’m playing “Fools Rush In” already. So. You know the story in Winnie the Pooh when he goes to visit Rabbit, and Rabbit offers him honey or condensed milk with his bread? It goes something like this: “Pooh was so excited he said, “Both,” then so as not to seem greedy, he said, “but don’t bother about the bread, please.” That was me when I smelt Black Cashmere: so excited and greedy I bought two bottles immediately without even bothering to spray it on a card or my skin: in fact, I bought it on the strength of the tiniest whiff I caught on the customer ahead of me when I was waiting to buy something else. It was quite expensive, and that x2 (look at me not caring); it’s rather potent (drop dead, world, I’m coming through); its overall fabulosity accompanies my mood in any direction (gorgeous AND versatile).
I wonder if Pooh was as delighted with his condensed milk-honey surprise
Well he did get stuck trying to get out of Rabbit’s dwelling didn’t he? Rabbit telling Pooh that he thought that “one of us was eating too much at the time and I knew it wasn’t me” is one of my favourite Pooh quotes!
Ha ha! It seems that Waterdragon managed to escape without such indignities! And smelled good while doing so too.
Oh, I dunno. I haven’t had anyone hang tea towels on my legs, but I’ve paid the piper a few times, I think. Of course, I was younger and MUCH sillier last year…
“It all comes” said Pooh crossly, “of not having front doors big enough”.
I’m 100% with Pooh’s logic here. The principle of the inadequate front door can be fruitfully applied to so many situations!
I think he was at the time, but he had to pay for his pleasures (it is ever thus!) by serving as a clothes horse at his nether end! But, I mean, if life hands out honey AND condensed milk, any self-respecting hedonist would be bound to take both and worry about the consequences later.
mmmmm, yes quite a predicament.
Another favourite part is the story of the Woozles and the Wizzles. And how anxious it is to be a very small animal entirely surrounded by water!
I’ve always had an urge to join the Expotition to find the North Pole, but most of all, I’d like to take tea with Wol, who could spell his own name, even if he did get it wrong.
Yes and to receive a birthday card saying HIPY PAPY BTHUTHDTH THUTHDA BTHUTHDY and meeting Heffalumps.
You can’t go wrong with an investment level splurge of 2 bottles of Black Cashmere! One for you and one for the future, right? It’s not commonly available.
Oh, AnneS, it didn’t end there! I went back the following week to buy a bottle as a gift for a friend. I could, of course, have given her my second bottle, but that course of action didn’t commend itself, somehow. Anyhow, I caught the very last bottle, so the shop gave me the tester (about half full) as well! I really could be pickled in Black Cashmere and preserved for posterity.
Sounds like a major score to me! Awesome!!
When it’s love, it’s love. I commend you on avoiding the disappointment of ever being without it. Your friend would not have appreciated it the same way you do.
Is that in your will? Black Cashmere is fabulous and if you need to be pickled in something that sounds like an excellent option
I’m in DelRae Emotionelle. Yes, there is melon, but it smells really good to me. I get other notes, too, so it isn’t total sweet melon on me.
You smell gorgeous, I love Emotionelle, in spite of it’s cheesy name.
If Bergamoss came in those 2-ml minis rather than only as a solid, I would have rushed right in, foolishly or not. You’ve reminded me to order a sample, at least.
I’m gutted that Tango has been discontinued; I have a mini and had been planning to order the EdP. My nose is fascinated by that crazy choya nakh – an essence derived from roasted sea shells, of all things.
Did you see on the Aftelier site that one may order disco’d perfumes at great expense? Wonder how many people do that.
I’m glad you mentioned this. I had looked at the “Perfumes Past” section when I first heard that Tango was discontinued, but it wasn’t showing up then. Now it is showing up as one that can be still be ordered, but samples are no longer. Whew, must act on this reprieve, before it becomes custom order only.
Ack – they require a minimum order of two bottles, which would be $360. Bummer.
Actually wearing Oscar Flor, because I was thinking about recent designer scents that are worth wearing for the Alaïa draw. There are better Calice Beckers, but Oscar Flor is worth a try if you are looking for a light-hearted summer floral.
That sucks about Tango. I didn’t like it the first time I tried it (in the beginning of my perfumista-hood), but I revisited and fell for it, just in time for it to be discountinued, of course.
Have you tried Providence Perfume Co’s Samarinda? It has choya nakh too. It’s not a dead ringer for Tango, but I find that it does remind me of it a bit. And you can get it for a lot less $$$.
Ridiculous humidity which has me feeling growly and on-edge. Trying to compensate and lift my mood with the beautiful 31 Rue Cambon. Ahhhh…
Oh, gorgeous! You smell heavenly.
Thanks to all who sent good wishes about the house purchase process! We’ve now progressed to the phase of counter-offers and counter-counter-offers, so all is up in the air as yet.
My scent of the day today is By Kilian’s Intoxicated. I like but don’t love it, which is probably a good thing given that it’s a bit outside my price range. I enjoy the cardamom note (especially in the opening, when it smells very much of green cardamom pods), but had hoped that the coffee note would be more noticeable.
Oof! I am starting this process and I am scared witless. WITLESS. I am hoping for the best for you.
Sampling Oriza Legrand’s Heliotrope Blanc and Marions-Nous. The former is pretty, but too almondy for me. The latter is so far really lovely – sparkling orange blossom, rose, jasmine with a hint of hyacinth and carnation, but the sillage is minimal. I suspect this would be a great wedding scent, aptly named! I’ll need to dump the rest of my teensy vial on the next time I test it.
SOTD is Miller et Bertaux GreenGreenGREENGREENGreen(s) (I can never remember how many Greens it ought to be). We have a heat wave on the way so this is quite nice.
This week I completed testing of my Hendley perfume samples. Very impressed. They’re not all to my taste but the quality and mindfulness is clear. Jade is a light green thing, touch of mint, summery; Rosenthal is Vintage Rose Skank; Auric is Vintage Floral Skank; Gia is Vintage Spice Skank. My favorites were Fume (think Slumberhouse Norne, with more smoke up front and more rough vetiver in the base), and best of all: Bourbon, boozy woody smoky juicy goodness. Yum!
They do sound good, and thank you for the complete report!
SOTam was Hermes Kelly Caleche edt from my gift horde of bottles I received the other week. It smells better to me now than it did when I first tested it from vial dabs a few years ago. I think my nose must be warming up to leathers after I’ve gone through some leather training wheels: from the softest possible in Vol de Nuit, through Bottega Veneta, on to Cuir de Lancome… I still don’t like massive leather, but I can see why so many people are really crazy about KC. Now, on with more leatheryish weird tea and citrus: AG Duel for my afternoon slog through chores.
KC is lovely. Not great as Cuir de Lancome, but really lovely nevertheless!
I actually prefer KC to C de L. I seem to be in the minority with this opinion though.
Ooh I missed the news about your gift horde! Mind repeating the story for those of us who are behind the curve? Would love to know what else you got! (And from what kind benefactor!!)
A lovely woman just resigned from my library board after about 8 years with us. She is in her 60s, and her mother in law, who is much older, had given her many bottles of fragrances over the years. Most of these bottles were never opened or worn b/c of allergies of my friend. We had a parting lunch the other week b/c she is going to florida, downsizing, etc, and surprised me with this bag of mostly older frags! The Kelly Caleche edt was one of the bottles.
Oh how generous!! And wonderful for all involved really–so great when an unloved fragrance finds someone who will enjoy it!
I like many leathers but have never quite got on with KC. For some reason I don’t like the litchi in it. I have at least one scent I like that features litchi, so I’m not sure why it bothers me in KC…
Love Duel! You smell great!
Congratulations on the gift haul!
Rosine´s Rose d´Été.
Not my favorite from this line – these would be Une Folie de Rose, Rose Kashmir and Un Zest de Rose – but I usually enjoy its fruitness and the musky drydown. Today it´s feeling very soapy, cheap and meh. I´ll have to take a break by the perfume shop to do some serious on-skin sniffing.
SOTD for Throwback Thursday is Gap Grass.
It was also the day for the annual picnic luncheon at my local library for those of us who participate in its book discussion groups. A box lunch was provided by our Friends of the Library, and we each brought a favorite book to recommend to others. Our librarian compiles the list into printed and online forms and our recommendations are made available to all who want them.
As a baseball nerd, my recommendation was The Joy of Keeping Score by James Dickson, and I proudly wore my South Side tshirt (those of you in the Chicago environs will know what that means in baseball terms) and layered Grass over BBW’s Green Clover & Aloe lotion for that outdoor-summer-stadium vibe. What fun to combine some of my loves – books, my wonderful library, baseball and fragrance – in one delightful afternoon event!
This fellow baseball nerd thanks you for the book recommendation! I hadn’t heard of The Joy of Keeping Score, but learned how to keep a scorecard from my parents and enjoy busting out that skill now and again when I’m watching a game. Also, jealous of your Gap Grass!
It’s a delightful book with many interesting vignettes and human interest stories in addition to sections on various methods and the history of scorekeeping. A slim book filled with many photos and illustrations, it would make a great stocking-stuffer for any baseball fan.
The author’s correct name is Paul Dickson, not James, don’t know where I got that from. Complete title is: The Joy of Keeping Score, How Scoring the Game Has Influenced and Enhanced the History of Baseball.
I love your thematic scent choices!
Baseball and libraries — two of my favorite things. Thanks for the book rec!
I’m not wearing anything, as I’ve just been to a smoke sauna and some of the scent still clings to my hair and skin. And as this happens to be one of my absolute favourite smells, I’m not going to waste this. If you love smoky perfumes and can stand heat, I very much recommend trying a smoke sauna when you have the chance. Inside, it smells very intensely smoky and of wood and leather and fresh birch branches.
I’d never heard of a smoke sauna before, Annikky. It sounds great! How do they make it smoky without making the air irritating or hazardous?
I am not an expert, but the sauna has to be well constructed and properly heated and aired. Even then, it can sometimes be slightly irritating for the eyes and throat, especially if you go first (the quality of the sauna experience is often measured but the lack of any irritation, this is the goal). But generally, the smoke itself is gone by the time you enter the sauna, but the smell stays – it has permeated the wood anyway. This is what Wikipedia has to say:
“The savusauna (smoke sauna) is a special type of sauna without a chimney. Wood is burned in a particularly large stove and the smoke fills the room. When the sauna is hot enough, the fire is allowed to die and the smoke is ventilated out. The residual heat of the stove is enough for the duration of the sauna. This represents the ancestral type of sauna, since chimneys are a later addition. Smoke saunas have experienced great revival in recent years since they are considered superior by the connoisseurs. They are not, however, likely to replace all or even most of the regular saunas because more skill, effort and time (usually most of the day) are needed for the heating process.
Smoke saunas are still extant not only in Finland but also in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. They are considered to be cheap, simple to build and durable (if measures of fire prevention are taken while building the sauna). The longevity is warranted by disinfectant features of smoke.”
Annikky, that sounds WONDERFUL! Sign me up! Until today, I’d never heard of this. Thanks for expanding my horizons.
Thanks, Annikky! This sounds like a wonderful experience.
I’m wearing Cacharel Amor Amor today. The opening is a bit creamsicle-y. I hadn’t really thought of myself as the creamsicle-smelling type, but I kinda liked it.
Hey guys…
Dr. says I may have hip impingment possibly a tear..and wants to do more tests. He also said I am way too nervous about it all…um ya..this has been super painful so yes, I am scared…but he talked down to me…like I am too scared..yes, probably but when someone injures you…..you put a guard up…and ya, you get scared.
I tried putting on Iris d’Nuit from sample before my apt…something pretty, breezy….cozy…..didn’t help the nerves..I hoped it would have. Dr.s..why so hard to find one that has compassion and listens to you…and I’m actually cares…and doesn’t think or act like you are a lesser human cause you don’t got a PhD?:p.
Xoxo
*um actually..not I’m actually…autocorrect…you make me look dumb lol
Oh Omega, so sorry that you are continuing to have issues with the medical professionals. It is so scary when you are in so much pain – pain stresses you out, and the stress makes the pain worse. A terrible cycle. I am dealing with back issues and physical therapy, but much much less severe. My doctor yesterday told me I needed to relax as my stress about the pain is making it worse – easier said than done. And also to get more sleep – I’d love to, but you try and get my brain to slow down enough to get to sleep! And since I have to work and have 2 small children, can’t take any good drugs since I need to be alert! Anyway, I am doing my best to remember that it will get better and won’t always be like this – keep the long view! And I do hope you can come across more compassionate doctors as this situation continues – the last thing you need to be doing now is looking for more doctors, I know you just want it fixed.
Ya, I have been to several dr.s to try to find out all of what’s going on..which he thought was strange. It’s just I know now that I have more than one injury…and it took a while to figure that out…cause drs here are incompetent…and want to get you in and out so they can get to their vacay in Hawaii, really…so, I finally met one that kind of steered me in the right direction…and went from there. I was told it was just my spine for the longest time..even when my hip locked up the first time…so finally a spine dr. says no..you’re main problem is your hip..and explained why..how my symptoms matched that..it started to make sense..it’s crazy what I have been through.
Drugs..I hate them..I hate pills. I took nsaids for as long as possible, really strong ones but they mess with my mind..hearing… cause stomach pain..and much more..they prescribed a majorly strong muscle relaxer…um no thanks..I don’t want to be a zombie..really. Pain is a horrible cycle..and Idk if I will ever be without it again..and under 40 and probably unable to do the things I used to.. like dancing, treadmill..just walking with my husband in a park for a while…the list goes on…it’s totally devastating not knowing the future and that the person you were just a few months ago…is over.
Keep up the good work with pt, they aren’t even recommending I do that now..so I am just a slug with no life and barely any movement. I really hope things get better for you…the ‘one day at a time’ mentality is hard to keep in these times..isn’t it?
Xoxoxo
Glad you checked in, Omega. I hope that you will consider that doctors and health care professionals are your employees, not your bosses. If who you have is not meeting your needs, perhaps you should find someone else. However you feel about what’s going on should be respected. I know it’s hard to speak up when you’re in pain and vulnerable, and it sure would be nice to receive what you need without demanding it. As an RN, I would like to assure you that the care you’re seeking is available. As a sometimes disgruntled patient, I encourage you to be clear about your needs, confident that they are valid, and to expect that you will be heard. If you experience less than that, you are not getting the care you deserve.
This is great advice. Thanks for this, Holly.
I’m so glad you have found it helpful, leathermountain. I truly hope that everyone will one day understand it’s important to embrace and affirm who they are and how they feel.
Thanks Holly. This guy is supposed to be a really good hip surgeon, a couple of my friends had hip replacement and are very happy with him. His bedside manner sucks, totally though. I was scared and didn’t really want him to examine me/touch me..so he said ‘forget it’ and then I said, ‘ok dr. it’s ok, you can exam me now, I just needed to get myself together, sorry’. Then he said, ‘nope, I won’t do it’ again I said, ‘really, I can do it..I just needed to get it together’..he said, ‘nope, I won’t’..and didn’t even explain my xrays well..he just wanted to leave. I just needed to calm down some..it stinks when they talk down to you and make you feel like such a worthless idiot. Ya, I am scared…but as a Dr…can’t you reassure me somehow instead of being a total jerk about it? It really doesn’t help. Thanks again, Holly.
Even if your friends are happy with him, I would not use that doctor– your problem came from someone not listening or respecting you so I wouldn’t compound it with someone who seemed to be acting immature and not respecting you
Ya..he really makes bank probably, he doesn’t need my business. I really wished he would have examined me and listened. It makes it so much harder when doctors don’t care or take the time to understand…my husband was really upset how he was with me. There aren’t too many dr.s to choose from here and this guy gets a good reno surgery wise.
Given the pain you have been through as a result of someones manipulations I’m not surprised you were apprehensive about the area being touched. This one sounds like a diva! When it comes to medical stuff there is this tension between finding a doctor who is respectful and compassionate and those who are vetted for their superior skills. Given how much we depend on our bodies we tend to choose the later. I think I would do the same. Perhaps someone in the medical field here could say something about this question…
There have actually been studies that show that the doctors that get sued for malpractice are the ones who have horrible bedside manners. I would shop around a little– the doctor that Omega saw doesn’t even sound like he wants her business
Etro Etra today. Today I have finally caught up on samples (in a small way)–I have tested the same number of samples as I have acquired since moving to Boston 3 months ago. Now to get through the hundreds of backlogged samples so I can end the year with fewer samples than I began it with!
Inspired by Robin’s SOTD yesterday, I am wearing Berdoues Aasam of India from a small decant, and I am smitten. What a gorgeous and refreshing lemony black tea scent! I am amazed by its longevity; I spritzed 3x (2 on the hair, 1 on the neck), and 14 hours later it’ s still vibrant. At $80 for a 100 ml bottle, this beauty is a bargain (and will probably alast a lifetime). Straight to the Wishlist it goes.
Bah…ASSAM of India. Stupid fingers….
I think this is creating a lemming; that sounds wonderful! I love Assam teas in particular, too!